"How--" he started, then had to stop and take a second to calm himself to prevent his voice from breaking. "How can you not have noticed the way he looks at you? He doesn't look at you like a cousin, he looks at you like you belong to him. He looks at you like-- like he's just biding his time until he gets you into his bed, like it's his right to have you in his bed, and it makes me sick to even think about."

The mental images of her with Trent, of him kissing her and touching her the way he'd been the first to do had haunted him ceaselessly since he'd seen them together in the kitchen. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that Trent was attracted to her, and it was hard for Jim to believe she'd really never noticed.

"Nyota, I-- I can't do this. There's only so much pain a man can take before he reaches his breaking point and I-- I've had more than my fair share in my life. I have lost everyone I've ever cared about. If I'm going to lose you too, then please, please, I beg you, walk out that door right now and never look back. While I can still convince myself I'll get over it."